Top 5: Surprise packages in the Championship this season
12 September 2015 - Championship - Brighton & Hove Albion v Hull City Brighton players swarm Tomer Hemed to celebrate his goal Photo: Charlotte Wilson
The Championship is arguably the toughest division in the Football League – finish at the top and the wonders of the Premier League await, end up at the bottom and a road to insolvency and restructuring will ultimately follow.
Trying to predict who will be title contenders and who will fail to impress at this level is becoming harder and harder.
Previously, relegated Premier League teams have been expected to bounce straight back into winning ways whilst those promoted into the league would find it tough to compete. However, nowadays this is just not the case and QPR and Wolves are prime examples of this.
So, in this unpredictable league, here are five teams that are defying the odds so far this season.
5) Cardiff
Sammy Ameobi has been a key man for Cardiff this season.
Since being relegated from the Premier League two seasons ago, no one has really known what to expect from Cardiff. A side that consistently finished in and around the play off positions from 2008/09 until they were promoted in 2012/13 could only finish mid-table last season.
This year, under the management of Russell Slade, Cardiff are on target for another strong season as they look to be rediscovering their previous Championship form. Currently seventh in the league table, having lost just once in their last eight games, Cardiff will be hoping to push for promotion this year once again.